O'Leary is a firm believer in the adage 'there's no such thing as bad publicity'. Every few months he comes out with statements about outrageous ideas such as 'charging to use the aircraft toilets', 'Ryanair staff should nick the free pens from hotels' etc etc. He spaces out these to keep his company in the news.

Getting back to the thread: I am an 89'er. In 'that year' we didn't just talk, we took action, rightly or wrongly. But at least we did something.

Question is: after this big meeting in Sydney, after all the talk and tub thumping on PPrune, what are the pilots of Australia going to DO?

When did these idiots without understanding of the basic concept of flying take over the industry anyway? He must either want some headlines or have no comprehension of what being a Pilot is really all about. In fact I get criticized by family and friends all the time about how Pilots are obsolete and airliners fly themselves these days. People have been oversold the automation aspect of aircraft. Once in the Kimberley while landing a 210 a passenger asked how the auto-land worked in the aircraft I was flying. :ugh: Passengers used to get a real shock when I told them the Metro didn't even have an autopilot and a flight director was something we could only dream about.

I really think the public need to be re-educated as to the role of an Airline Pilot, even cabin attendants have no idea. I was buying a coffee at an airport the other morning at 9am after 2 sectors and an early hour sign on, and struck up a conversation with the said attendant. She remarked how exhausted she was after an early sign on and how she was looking forward to heading home. I remarked I had signed on at the same time and was heading off for another 2 sectors. She replied, "ah well, you guys don't do much so I suppose they can work you a little longer" :ugh:

Traditionally Pilots started, ran and oversaw airlines and aviation companies. When business got in the way is when it turned to poo.

Perhaps we really should look at become major shareholders in our respective Airlines. Instead of 30k+ for an endorsement, perhaps a similar share procurement. Maybe then we would even have a seat on the board and have the right to vote out these self indulging arrogant (i'll steal sunfishes lingo here) narcissists and get some positivity back in our workplace and profession again.

Has anyone got the PR stuff on the roll yet?

The expression of the CEO in the above photo seems to sum up his intellect pretty well.

Maybe he should change his name to O' TOOL .

GG know the feeling.

FA's where I work think the FO is just some dude that tags along to keep the Captain company.

The education you talk of is coming. It'll be in the form of a runway overrun a mid air or a CFIT at the hands of some poor bastard thats baby sitting some 18 year old from a third world country.

Low Cost? High Risk.

or

Low Cost? Russian Roulette.

Good Luck Joe Average.

I look upon O'Leary and his cohorts with a mixture of pity and contempt. I call them "Penguins" because they are flightless birds. They work in our industry but cannot fly. They dream of doing what we do, but simply, they aren't good enough to do our work. They are just pen-pushing bores who are a waste of my time and I cannot even be even bothered to spit upon their faces. Because they lack the ability and the "cool" to have our job, they are envious and seek to put us down. Sorry O'Leary(and Godfry et-al), did I steal you Girlfriend once?? People like you fail to inspire and just fill me with inertia. You are boring and lack our sex-appeal and you know it. :ok: Losers..

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

D!ckheads..:zzz:

Anthill....I just tried saying out loud your last post using a bad French accent. Try it....funny stuff!!!

Forget O'Leary and his sensational claptrap. He has to get his airline in the news somehow :8:}

Let's get back on topic, please.

Sadly there's a little bit of "O'Leary" in the general public. One often hears from someone not in the airline game same....."you guys have it easy the auto pilot does all the work" ........So Mr & Mrs' gen pub wouldn't think it too odd to remve one of the pilots up front especially when they also think we are all over paid for just sitting there!:sad:.
There may well come a time when there is only one human up front but it won't :sad:be in our time.


Wmk2

Can we forget this bloke, discussing such nonsense only plays his PR game.

Back on track - I'm not in Australia so not aware of behind the scenes events but what is being done to continue the outpouring of support demonstrated at the meeting?

Has there been any move to unite Professional Pilot Associations? Although one or two office jobs might be lost, rationalizing and streamlining our pilots union is the only way to take on CEO's who wish to denigrate the profession of career aircrew and reduce Terms and Conditions of employment. One strong advocacy group is far more powerful than a number of fractured and impotent groups.

And what of the most important tool in this battle - our PR campaign aimed initially at the public but essentially at the politicians? The pollies are the only people who can force Australian airlines, for the benefit of the Australian traveller to hire only Australian trained citizens or those who have been through a training program totally acceptable to CASA and who have a minimum of 1500hrs flying experience (as Congress in the USA has recently mandated).

Again apologies for not knowing more but has there been any further movement? Hopefully the meeting was just the start of a concerted revamping of Professional Pilots in Australia and not just a one-off venting of frustration that won't go anywhere.

Hopefully there is more progress to come.

Agreed even though I made the first post regarding him. My point way that this Lower and Lower Cost ideology is getting dangerous and unrealistic as is importing people on lower conditions.

Back to J* or whoever else wants to offshore Australian jobs.

There seems to be a common thread amongst Irish CEO's by the look of things ?
Causal factor - They were born complete knobs.

United we stand, divided we fall
 

I'm sorry that I was not there, but so glad to see support is happening. Australian Aviation has been significantly vandalized since the late 80's and it seems this trend is continuing.

I sincerely hope we all stick together and pray for some politicians with integrity (extremely rare species) to gain power, and that the aviation industry eventually lobby for some common sense to return.

Fuel tax funds FAA in the U.S. just like Australia of a few decades ago. The TAX rate in Oz has already seriously erroded much of the industry and privatization of monopoly assets is nothing short of theft.

If we stand united, we will return respect for air-crew and facilitate appropriate work conditions everywhere.

Oz jobs for Oz pilots - no compromise

Yes, what timing WRT the DJ A330 assignments.

I can see this really helping our cause. NOT.

Watch the wannabes try and weasel their way into these positions at the expense of the "pilot body" and unity. I hope I will be proved wrong, but I bet my left one I won't.

the 330 dance is not good for the collective - refer particularly the emphasis on "knowldge of the NZ reg environment" which was gently buried in the text.

For those that only read tabloids, need subtitles or have trouble undertsanding the aviation agenda:........ it suggests the liklihood of the fruits of a bi-lateral pirate arrangement that again puts Australian jobs and Australian route capacity together with the substandard pay and T&C's of less fortunate places.

Sooner we all get smarter and start playing a more strategic, united game the better.

:E AT

What:An all Australian Pilot meeting to develop a response to the career threatening FSO 136/10 and especially the off-shoring of Australian jobs by Jetstar Airways (Qantas Group member).

When:1pm on Monday, 27 September 2010

Where:
Mantra Tullamarine Hotel, corner Melrose Drive and Trade Park Drive, Tullamarine VIC.

Some on-street parking is available and paid parking is accessible at the rear of the hotel.

The venue is a 5 minute drive from Melbourne Airport - [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']CLICK HERE to view a map.[/font]

To assist us in hiring the correct room size, please RSVP by emailing [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'][email protected] or [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'][email protected][/font] or call 03 9938 3898.

All Australian Pilots that are not flying at this time, regardless of AIPA, AFAP or non-union membership are encouraged to attend.

This will definitely affect the career of ALL Australian Pilots. [/font]

Maybe make a separate post Eastmoore and get it stickied, rather than having the next meeting buried 23 pages deep into an existing thread.

Guys and girls of Melbourne its now your time to stand up!

Ok, so since this was first raised in August of last year, what has happend?

Can anyone give an update? Anything at all.

Or have we lost momentum/headed in the wrong direction/rolled over and let the masters scratch our tummy and tell us we are special whilst they take away our bone?

Last comment is correct.
Every man woman and child pilot for themselves.

was ALWAYS going to be the outcome. Surprise surprise!!

I wouldn't say it was a total waste. J* crew now respond to my 'G'day' in the terminal or waving as we taxi past 3 out of 5 times- up from 1 in 5 prior to the meetings. :ok:

Spoke to some union reps a while back. Some stuff going on behind the scenes that suggests that things are moving in the right direction. The 'shot across the bows' appears to have had some impact. I guess we'll know more in the next 2-3 years.